South Korea Coupang warehouse fire burns for over 52 hours

A fire at a logistics centre for e-commerce firm Coupang serving the Seoul metropolitan area blazed for more than 52 hours, with authorities ordering nearby businesses and factories to evacuate over concerns that parts of the building could collapse.



The fire broke out at around 6:54 a.m. on Saturday on the sixth floor of Coupang's No. 32 logistics or fulfilment centre in Incheon, west of Seoul, and spread to the seventh floor, according to fire authorities.



All workers inside the building were safely evacuated, Coupang said.



The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, but the fulfilment centre holds many flammables such as household products, paper boxes and vinyl packaging. Authorities plan an investigation after the blaze is fully extinguished.



Closed-circuit TV footage on Monday morning showed dozens of fire trucks and smoke still emanating from the building despite rain.



Late on Sunday, authorities issued an evacuation order for shops and factories within 116 metres of the warehouse's ramp area, citing a possible partial collapse of the building.